Folding desk and table



2 SI-lEETS-SI-IEET 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1950 llllllllllllllllnn INV EN TOR. 62 562 rber HaraZdB 0 y ATI'CI R N EYS Oct. 23, 1951 V H. B; BARBER 2,572,585

- FOLDING DESK AND TABLE Filed Sept. 6, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET I NV EN TOR.

f/azfo/dfioyd Barer ATTORNEYS iatented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,572,585 FOLDING DESK AND TABLE Harold Boyd Barber, Missoula, Mont. Application September 6, 1950, Serial No. 183,328

2 Claims.

This invention relates to furniture of the folding or collapsible type, and in particular a stand that may be used for a table, desk, easel, or the like'with a table top supported by a tripod having a main leg on which a seat is adjustably mounted and two auxiliary legs, and with suitable brace bars for rigidly supporting the device in an upright position.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved folding stand of the utility type in that it may be used for different purposes, and that is adapted to be folded for storing, and shipping, and also to facilitate carrying in a motor vehicle.

Various types of folding tables and stands have been provided but to increase the usefulness of stands of this type it has been found desirable to form the stand with a main supporting leg and to provide means for adjustably mounting a seat on the leg. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates animproved folding stand of the tripod type having an extended main supporting leg pivotally mounted on the underside of a table top with a seat carried by the main supporting leg, with auxiliary legs'also hinged to the under side of the table top, and with stiffening braces pivotally attached to the main supporting leg and positioned to hold the leg from the table top and auxiliary legs.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for constructing a folding stand whereby a table top is rigidly supported and in which a seat may be mounted on a main supporting leg thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table, desk, or the like in which all of the parts are pivotally connected and also in which the parts are readily folded or collapsed to occupy a comparatively small area to facilitate storing and handling, and in which the parts may be made of aluminum, wood or plastic as the construction material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding stand, desk or table which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a table top having blocks attached to the under surface with a double main supporting leg and two auxiliary legs pivotally attached to the blocks and held in extended positions by braces, and a seat pivotally and adjustably attached to the main supporting leg.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the stand in the set up position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the stand.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the stand illustrating the construction and mounting of the auxiliary legs.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 showing the stand with the parts in the fold ed position.

Figure 5 is a detail illustrating a modification wherein the seat is supported by a Wire loop providing a spring.

Figure 6 is an elevational view looking toward the end of the seat shown in Figure 5 with the upper end of the side members of the main supporting leg broken away. I

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved table or desk of this invention includes a heart shaped table top [0, a similarly shaped seat II, a main supporting leg having spaced parallel side members l2 and I3, auxiliary legs l4 and IS, a top brace l6 and a leg brace l1.

It will be understood that both the table top and seat, although illustrated as being ,heart shaped, may be of any suitable shape or design or material. The top H! is provided with blocks [8 and H) which are attached to the under surface and to which the main supporting leg is pivotally connected by pins 20 which extend through the block and upper ends of the side rails I2 and I3 that are positioned between the block. As illustrated in Figure 3 the upper end of the rail I2 is reinforced by plates 2| and 22 recessed in the sides thereof and the upper end of the rail I3 is reinforced by similar plates 23 and 24. A spacing block 25 is provided between the upper ends of the rails l2 and i3, and a similar block 26 is provided between the lower ends of the rails, as shown in Figure 3. v

The rails l2 and i3 of the main supporting leg are provided with spaced bolt holes 21 through which a pin 28 extends and, as illustrated in Fig. ures 1 and 2, the pin 28 extends through an arm 29 on the under side of the seat H the opposite end of which is positioned between blocks 3d and 3| in which a support 32 is pivotally mounted by a pin 33. The lower part of the support 32 is provided with a pin 34 that is positioned to rest against pins 35 and 36 extended upwardly from the upper surfaces of the rails i2 and i3, respectively.

With the parts arranged in this manner the pin 28 may be moved to another one of the holes 21 to adjust the elevation of the seat I I and the pin 34 Would be raised or lowered to seat against upper or lower pins 35 and 35 to correspond whereby the seat II is horizontal in all positions.

The auxiliary legs I4 and I5, which are rectangular shaped in cross section are pivotally mounted on the under surface of the top ID with the legs I4 positioned between blocks 31 and 38 and the leg I5, between blocks 39 and 4B. The leg I4 is pivotally mounted on a pin 4| and the leg I is similarly mounted on a pin 42. As illustrated in Figure 3, the upper end of the leg I4 is provided with side plates 43 and 44 and the upper end of the leg I5 is provided with similar plates 45 and 45. The side plates on the upper ends of the legs I3 and I 5 are bent to compensate for the angle of the legs whereby the upper portions thereof are parallel to the blocks between which the legs are pivotally mounted. Supporting blocks 4! and 48 are provided to engage the surfaces of the auxiliary legs to rigidly support the legs in extended position.

The legs I l and I5 are retained in spaced relation by a pin 49 and the pin 49 is positioned to receive a notch 55 in the leg brace II, the opposite end of which is pivotally mounted between the side rails I2 and I3 of the main supporting leg by a bolt 5I with spacers 52 and 53, thereby retaining the braces in the center of the stand.

The table top support I6 is pivotally mounted between the side rails I2 and I3 of the main supporting leg by pins 54 and a pin 55, extended through the upper end is held in notches 56 and 51 of blocks 58 and 59 on the under surfaces of the top II].

In the design illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 a seat 80 is illustrated as supported on a main supporting leg having side rails SI and 52, similar to the rails I2 and IS, with the seat provided with an arm 63 that is pivotally mounted between the rails by a pin 65, and with the outer end of the seat supported by a wire loop 55 pivotally mounted in blocks 66 on the under surface of the seat, and positioned to rest upon pins 6'! and 58 extended from the upper surfaces, of the rails BI and 62. The loop 65 provides resiliency to increase the comfort of the seat.

With the parts arranged as illustrated and described a seat may readily be folded to the position shown in Figure 4 or set up to the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 and with the stand formed in different sizes and also with the position of the seat I I adjustable the stand, table. or desk is readily adapted for different purposes.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding stand, the combination which comprises a table top having blocks on the under surface thereof, a pair of spaced parallel side rails pivotally mounted between two of the blocks on the under side of the table top and providing a main supporting leg, relatively spaced stop pins on said main supporting leg, a seat pivotally mounted between the rails of the main supporting leg and extended outwardly therefrom, a support pivotally mounted on the under side of the seat and positioned to adjustably engage the stop pins on said main supporting leg, a pair of auxiliary legs also pivotally mounted between blocks on the under surface of the table top and extended outwardly in diverging relation, a pin extended through the said auxiliary legs retaining the legs in outwardly extended positions, a brace pivotally mounted at one end between the rails of the main supporting leg and having a notch in the opposite end positioned to receive the pin between the said auxiliary legs, and a top brace also pivotally mounted between the rails of the main supporting leg and having pins extended from the sides of the upper end positioned to seat in notches in the lower surfaces of blocks positioned on the under surfaces of the table top.

2. In a folding stand, the combination which comprises a table top having blocks on the under surface thereof, a pair of spaced parallel side rails pivotally mounted between two of the blocks on the under side of the table top and providing a main supporting leg, relatively spaced stop pins on said main supporting log a seat pivotally mouned between the rails of the main supporting leg and extended outwardly therefrom, a support pivotally mounted on the under side of the seat and positioned to adjustably engage the stop pins on said main supporting leg, 2. pair of auxiliary legs also pivotally mounted between blocks on the under surface of the table top and extended outwardly in diverging relation, a pin extended through the said auxiliary legs retaining the legs in outwardly extended positions, a brace pivotallymounted at one end between the rails of the main supporting leg and having a notch in the opposite end positioned to receive the pin between the said auxiliary legs, and a top brace also pivotally mounted between the rails of the main supporting leg and having pins extended from the sides of the upper endpositioned to seat in notches in the lower surfaces of blocks positioned on the under surface of the table top, and said main legs having reinforcing plates positioned in recesses in the side of the upper ends thereof and the upper ends of the auxiliary legs being formed with obtuse angles and obtuse reinforcing plates secured to said obtuse upper leg ends to compensate for the outwardly diverging positions of the legs. I

HAROLD BOYD BARBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,367,908 Karschitz Feb. 8, 19 21 1,557,541 Lynch Oct. 13, 1925 2,530,785 Rocca Nov. 21, 1950 

